will hit the so-called debt ceiling late next month. >> tom: 2012 was one for the weather record books. it was the ninth hottest year on earth, based on records going back to 1880, according to nasa. the trend of rising temperatures always brings up a debate over climate change, but it's been four years since congress tried to tackle the issue. darren gersh reports from washington. >> reporter: it was not just the united staá?:háhat sweltered through last summer. nasaonfirms 2012 was one of the hottest years on record for the entire globe. 2012 was one degree warmer than normal for the 20th century, and, compared to records dating back to 1880, the globe has warmed by 1.4 degrees. nasa scientists also believe the warming trend is accelerating, just as analysts see the political will for climate change hitting new lows. but that doesn't mean the issue has gone away; it's just taking a different form. for example, the house or representatives debated relief from superstorm sandy today. ergy analyst kevibook expects governments will increasingly be forced to spend money to mitigate or a